Redhill Air Show and Vintage Fly-in 2003, Redhill Aerodrome, Surrey - 17th August

Situated south of the North Downs in the eastern end of Surrey is the beautiful little grass airfierld of Redhill Aerodome. Home to a number of avaition companies including Bristow Helicopters the airfield is home to a number of Vintage types, including the only Robinson Redwing II and a clutch of Tiger moths as well as Piper Cubs. Each year, one of these companies, Cubair organises a small air display and vintage fly-in held in a very British garden party atmosphere. The ground attrations this year included the based East Surrey Aviation Groups Wing Museum, a very good Aerojumble and of course the obligatory Teas Tent! The only jet noise apart from the helicopters to be heard is the occassional rumble of an airliner climbing overhead from Gatwick Airport which is very close by.

Despite these restrictions, Cubair managed to put together a highly enjoyable display of several types that larger airshows overlook, mainly because at larger shows such as the nearby Biggin Hill, they simply would lack impact. However, at this natural confined bowl venue, many displays have the same impact that a Tornado has at larger venues! There's no doubt the main highlight of the afternoon flying was Rob Davies in his Austrailian built North Amercian P-51D Mustang Big Beautiful Doll putting on a fine display using the lay of the land to full effect to enhance his display. Rob's Yakovlev Yak-11 also displayed during the afternoon. Also gaining a large round of applause from the very highly appreciative crowd were the Tiger Club's Turbulent Team with their brilliant Aerial Circus performance of Barnstorming, Flour Bombing and Limbo flying. The Royal Air Force also diverted several of their display items from Eastbourne to make flypasts throughout the afternoon with the BAE Systems Nimrod MR2, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Supermarine Spitfire PR19 and Hawker Hurricane IIc and the Red Arrows to round off the the afternoon.

This airshow really is a hidden gem amongst the much bigger and more commercial events on the airshow calendar and deserves every future success to continue. However, it would seem this beatiful example of an all grass airfield will be under threat if the current owners have their way and turn Redhill into a souless commuter airport as part of the UK's airport expansion scheme. Despite being an outsider, mainly because of the proximity to Gatwick and the unfavourable topography of the area, it's owners have missed the point of the airfield in it's present scheme. Here at Flightline UK, we would prefer the airfield to keep it's current atmosphere which puts the fun into aviation.

 copyright Flightline UK 2003